Written Answers Thursday 2 December 2010

Scottish Executive

2014 Commonwealth Games

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37161 by Shona Robison on 11 November 2010, how much has been allocated for the anticipated cost of procuring a commercial host broadcast service provider.

Shona Robison: The Glasgow 2014 Organising Committee is currently in the process of developing the most appropriate strategy for engaging the services of a host broadcasting service for the games. The procurement process is scheduled to commence in the first half of 2011 as scheduled. It would not help to achieve best value for money to reveal details of the contract value in advance of this process.

2014 Commonwealth Games

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37161 by Shona Robison on 11 November 2010, how much it has estimated that the sale of the domestic and international broadcaster rights will generate.

Shona Robison: An important element of the games budget is the £89 million income that will be generated from commercial revenue streams. This revenue will be raised from sponsorship, ticketing, licensing of merchandising and through the sale of the domestic and international broadcasting rights for the games. It would not be appropriate to publish the expected income from the sale of broadcasting rights at this stage as this would jeopardise the organising committee’s ability to negotiate the best possible deal.

Cancer

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-36953 by Nicola Sturgeon on 9 November 2010, how much it will receive in Barnett consequentials resulting from the £200 million per year cancer drug fund.

Nicola Sturgeon: As I stated in my response to question S3W-36953 the Scottish Government will receive consequentials on the full NHS (Health) settlement in England, and these consequentials will be passed on in Scotland. These consequentials are allocated to the Scottish Government on a total budget basis with no specific policies ring-fenced.

Climate Change Fund

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the draft budget for 2011-12 will allow projects that were previously supported by the Climate Challenge Fund to reapply for funding.

Richard Lochhead: It is intended to allow existing projects to reapply for funding. All applications from previously supported communities will be carefully assessed, including on their achievements to date and on the robustness of their plans going forward.

Climate Change Fund

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, to enable projects to apply for continuation funding, applications to the 2011-12 Climate Challenge Fund will be accepted in advance.

Richard Lochhead: Yes. It is intended to establish an existing project extension and development application process in sufficient time to ensure that those who are successful in that process will be able to continue projects at 1 April 2011.

Compulsory Purchase Orders

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when a decision will be issued on the compulsory purchase order for Corunna Street, Glasgow.

Alex Neil: The report of the public local inquiry into objections to the Corunna Street Glasgow compulsory purchase order has been received and is being considered. A decision will be issued once these considerations have been completed. While no precise date can be given, I hope that it will be possible to issue the decision before the end of the year.

Compulsory Purchase Orders

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how long the reporter has taken to report on the compulsory purchase order at Corunna Street, Glasgow.

Alex Neil: The public local inquiry to hear objections against this compulsory purchase order commenced on 13 January 2010 and concluded on 20 May 2010. The inquiry and the evidence presented raised both complex and unique issues that required very careful consideration by the reporter. The report on the inquiry was submitted to Scottish ministers on 14 September 2010.

Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010

James Kelly (Glasgow Rutherglen) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its assessment is of the effect on the prison population of section 18 of the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010.

Kenny MacAskill: Our assessment is that it would deliver a significant change to the way that the criminal justice system deals with offenders. This would include a potential increase in the prison population, all other things being equal.

Dentistry

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many practising dentists there were in (a) 2006-07, (b) 2007-08, (c) 2008-09 and (d) 2009-10.

Shona Robison: Data showing the number of practising dentists in Scotland is available at http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/5898.html .

Drug and Alcohol Misuse

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the costs were of drug action teams and alcohol and drug action teams in each year from 2005 until they ceased to exist and what the annual costs of alcohol and drug partnerships have been since they were set up.

Fergus Ewing: The following table indicates Scottish Government funding for Alcohol and Drug Action Teams (ADAT) for the period 2005 to 2010 and for Alcohol and Drug Partnership (ADP) Teams for 2010-11.

  

 
ADAT
ADAT
ADAT
ADAT
ADAT
ADAT
ADP


2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11


Scotland
£2,505,003
£2,505,003
£2,505,003
£2,505,003
£2,655,284
£2,755,284
£3,265,887



  ADP support funding is administered by health boards. In areas where there is more than one ADP, and more than one support team, the NHS board, the local authorities and chairs of the relevant partnerships decide together how the support funding should be allocated within the board area.

  On 20 April 2009, in partnership with COSLA and NHS, the Scottish Government published a new framework for action on alcohol and drugs. It clearly sets out the roles, responsibilities and relationships between partners to make sure we can work together more effectively to ensure that an appropriate range of services are in place. This framework set up ADPs that have been in place since October 2009 and have clear responsibilities to develop effective local alcohol and drugs strategies. We expect these partnerships to make sure there is access to a range of appropriate services to promote recovery.

Drug and Alcohol Misuse

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been prosecuted for possession of illegal drugs in (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2009-10, broken down by (i) police force area and (ii) type of drug.

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been convicted of possession of illegal drugs in (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2009-10, broken down by (i) police force area and (ii) type of drug.

Fergus Ewing: The available information is given in the following table. Information for 2009-10 is due to be published on 25 January 2011.

  Persons Proceeded Against for Possession of Drug Offences1 by Police Force Area and Drug Type, 2008-09

  

Police Force/Drug Type
Charge Proved
Proceeded Against


Central
 
 


Unknown
73
79


Cannabis
59
61


Heroin
47
47


Cocaine
50
52


Amphetamines
10
11


Ecstasy
21
23


Other Class A
6
6


Other Class B
0
0


Other Class C
12
12


Total
278
291


Dumfries and Galloway
 
 


Unknown
47
48


Cannabis
22
26


Heroin
43
44


Cocaine
17
17


Amphetamines
2
2


Ecstasy
9
9


Other Class A
4
4


Other Class B
0
0


Other Class C
8
8


Total
152
158


Fife
 
 


Unknown
32
40


Cannabis
26
36


Heroin
35
35


Cocaine
25
25


Amphetamines
9
10


Ecstasy
10
10


Other Class A
4
4


Other Class B
1
1


Other Class C
8
9


Total
150
170


Grampian
 
 


Unknown
124
133


Cannabis
84
91


Heroin
196
212


Cocaine
138
146


Amphetamines
5
7


Ecstasy
12
14


Other Class A
12
15


Other Class B
1
1


Other Class C
10
13


Total
582
632


Lothian and Borders
 
 


Unknown
270
294


Cannabis
116
131


Heroin
174
181


Cocaine
99
107


Amphetamines
14
14


Ecstasy
42
44


Other Class A
5
5


Other Class B
2
2


Other Class C
16
19


Total
738
797


Northern
 
 


Unknown
92
97


Cannabis
56
70


Heroin
34
36


Cocaine
56
58


Amphetamines
13
15


Ecstasy
24
31


Other Class A
6
6


Other Class B
0
0


Other Class C
7
8


Total
288
321


Strathclyde
 
 


Unknown
669
726


Cannabis
496
556


Heroin
688
718


Cocaine
235
250


Amphetamines
31
37


Ecstasy
185
196


Other Class A
21
23


Other Class B
1
1


Other Class C
77
83


Total
2,403
2,590


Tayside
 
 


Unknown
202
210


Cannabis
29
31


Heroin
138
140


Cocaine
65
67


Amphetamines
2
2


Ecstasy
17
19


Other Class A
4
4


Other Class B
0
0


Other Class C
16
17


Total
473
490


Scotland2
 
 


Unknown
1,509
1,631


Cannabis
888
1,024


Heroin
1,355
1,419


Cocaine
685
724


Amphetamines
86
100


Ecstasy
320
350


Other Class A
62
67


Other Class B
5
5


Other Class C
154
171


Total
5,064
5,491



  Notes:

  1. Where main offence. Figures for 2008-09 are based on an updated crime classification and therefore may differ from those previously provided.

  2. Contains a small number of cases where force is unknown.

Drug and Alcohol Misuse

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people convicted of possessing cocaine received (a) a custodial sentence, (b) a community sentence order, (c) a probation order, (d) a drug treatment and testing order, (e) a fine or (f) another disposal in (i) 2008-09 and (ii) 2009-10, broken down by police force area.

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people convicted of possessing ecstasy received (a) a custodial sentence, (b) a community sentence order, (c) a probation order, (d) a drug treatment and testing order, (e) a fine or (f) another disposal in (i) 2008-09 and (ii) 2009-10, broken down by police force area.

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people convicted of possessing heroin received (a) a custodial sentence, (b) a community sentence order, (c) a probation order, (d) a drug treatment and testing order, (e) a fine or (f) another disposal in (i) 2008-09 and (ii) 2009-10, broken down by police force area.

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people convicted of possessing amphetamines received (a) a custodial sentence, (b) a community sentence order, (c) a probation order, (d) a drug treatment and testing order, (e) a fine or (f) another disposal in (i) 2008-09 and (ii) 2009-10, broken down by police force area.

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people convicted of possessing cannabis received (a) a custodial sentence, (b) a community sentence order, (c) a probation order, (d) a drug treatment and testing order, (e) a fine or (f) another disposal in (i) 2008-09 and (ii) 2009-10, broken down by police force area.

Fergus Ewing: The available information is given in the following table. Information for 2009-10 is due to be published on 25 January 2011.

  Persons with a Charge Proved for Possession of Drug Offences1, by Drug Type, 2008-09

  

Police Force/Result
Cannabis
Heroin
Cocaine
Amphetamines
Ecstasy


Central
 
 
 
 
 


Custody
0
6
1
0
0


Community service order
2
4
2
0
2


Probation
5
6
0
0
0


Drug Treatment and testing order
0
1
0
0
0


Fine
44
22
45
9
17


Other disposal2
8
8
2
1
2


Total
59
47
50
10
21


Dumfries and Galloway
 
 
 
 
 


Custody
0
1
0
0
0


Community service order
0
4
0
0
0


Probation
2
1
0
0
0


Drug Treatment and testing order
0
7
0
0
0


Fine
15
23
16
2
9


Other disposal2
5
7
1
0
0


Total
22
43
17
2
9


Fife
 
 
 
 
 


Custody
0
2
1
0
1


Community service order
2
0
0
0
0


Probation
3
3
0
1
0


Drug Treatment and testing order
0
1
0
0
0


Fine
20
23
23
8
8


Other disposal2
1
6
1
0
1


Total
26
35
25
9
10


Grampian
 
 
 
 
 


Custody
3
6
5
1
1


Community service order
1
4
5
0
0


Probation
8
16
5
0
0


Drug Treatment and testing order
0
1
0
0
0


Fine
62
125
112
4
7


Other disposal2
10
44
11
0
4


Total
84
196
138
5
12


Lothian and Borders
 
 
 
 
 


Custody
4
20
4
1
0


Community service order
3
3
2
0
2


Probation
2
11
0
0
1


Drug Treatment and testing order
1
18
3
0
0


Fine
90
98
83
9
38


Other disposal2
16
24
7
4
1


Total
116
174
99
14
42


Northern
 
 
 
 
 


Custody
1
0
0
0
0


Community service order
1
3
3
0
0


Probation
1
1
1
1
0


Drug Treatment and testing order
0
1
0
0
0


Fine
45
24
49
12
20


Other disposal2
8
5
3
0
4


Total
56
34
56
13
24


Strathclyde
 
 
 
 
 


Custody
10
47
7
0
1


Community service order
9
15
4
1
0


Probation
14
51
6
2
2


Drug Treatment and testing order
2
25
2
0
0


Fine
341
366
190
18
155


Other disposal2
120
184
26
10
27


Total
496
688
235
31
185


Tayside
 
 
 
 
 


Custody
1
23
2
0
0


Community service order
1
4
1
0
0


Probation
3
12
0
1
0


Drug Treatment and testing order
0
0
0
0
0


Fine
20
66
61
1
16


Other disposal2
4
33
1
0
1


Total
29
138
65
2
17


Scotland
 
 
 
 
 


Custody
19
105
20
2
3


Community service order
19
37
17
1
4


Probation
38
101
12
5
3


Drug Treatment and testing order
3
54
5
0
0


Fine
637
747
579
63
270


Other disposal2
172
311
52
15
40


Total
888
1,355
685
86
320



  Notes:

  1. Where main offence. Figures for 2008-09 are based on an updated crime classification and therefore may differ from those previously provided.

  2. More than 97% of other disposals are admonishments.

Education

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how it has monitored the implementation of the Curriculum for Excellence since August 2010.

Michael Russell: The Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) Management Board is using a range of evidence from partners to monitor and advise on implementation matters. The board meets every two months. At each meeting, the programme is reviewed and progress published timescales is monitored.

  In addition, I attend a range of groups which were established to comment on a range of implementation issues and provide additional routes for feedback CfE implementation. These include:

  The CfE Practitioners Group, which is made of head teachers from each school sector

  The CfE Stakeholders Group, which brings together a range of organisations which cover children’s interests

  The meetings of the chairs of the 18 CfE Excellence Groups.

Education

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities it has contacted since August 2010 to monitor the implementation of the Curriculum for Excellence and how many times contact has been made.

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive which local authorities it has met since August 2010 to monitor the implementation of the Curriculum for Excellence and how many such meetings have taken place.

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many schools it has contacted since August 2010 to monitor the implementation of the Curriculum for Excellence and how many times it has contacted each of these schools.

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many schools it has met since August 2010 to monitor the implementation of the Curriculum for Excellence and how many times it has met each of these schools.

Michael Russell: We continue to seek and receive regular feedback from local authorities and schools on progress with the implementation of Curriculum for Excellence (CfE), which is now a reality in our schools.

  The CfE Management Board, which includes representation from the Association of Directors of Education in Scotland and the teacher unions, is using a range of evidence from partners to monitor and advise on implementation matters. The programme continues to remain on track.

  The work of Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education to support implementation of CfE, as outlined in the 10-point plan, has involved contact with all 32 Directors of Education to review progress and the subsequent ongoing delivery of over 400 events with local authorities and their schools to offer appropriate advice and support.

Education

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many times it has sought feedback from HM Inspectorate of Education regarding the implementation of the Curriculum for Excellence in schools since August 2010 and what the nature of any such feedback has been.

Michael Russell: Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education (HMIe) have established a project board to lead its Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) support programme to every local authority, as part of the CfE 10-Point Plan. The work is scheduled from August to December 2010 and includes over 420 events in schools incorporating a targeted mix of meetings, seminars and workshops. HMIe will report to the CfE Management Board on the outcomes of this work early in the New Year. The Scottish Government is represented on this board.

  HMIe also report to the Curriculum for Excellence Management Board.

Education

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many Curriculum for Excellence-specific continuing professional development days it has planned from January to August 2011 and whether it will provide any additional funding for these days.

Michael Russell: The Scottish Government wrote to local authorities on 14 June 2010 offering them the opportunity to provide an additional in-service day in the 2010-11 school year to ensure that practitioners are fully supported as Curriculum for Excellence is implemented across Scotland. This meant that two additional days could be provided for teachers in the 2010-11 school year. In total, five extra in-service days (over three school years) have been enabled for this purpose, on top of the five standard in-service days available each year for every teacher in Scotland.

  The intention was that this latest additional in-service day would be available between August and December 2010. However, local authorities did have the option to put forward a case to provide the day later in the school year. No additional funding was necessary for this day to be provided.

Employment

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of employed adults in (a) Dundee and (b) Angus worked from home in their main job in each of the last five years for which information is available.

John Swinney: The information requested is set out in the following table. The data for Dundee City cannot be given as the estimates were found to be unreliable. Part (a) shows the percentage of employed adults who worked from home in their main job.

  Percentage of Employed Adults in Angus who worked from Home in their Main Job

  

Year
 


April 2004 to March 2005
5.1%


April 2005 to March 2006
5.0%


April 2006 to March 2007
4.5%


April 2007 to March 2008
5.8%


April 2008 to March 2009
5.3%


April 2009 to March 2010
4.3%



  Source: Annual Population Survey, April to March datasets.

  Notes:

  1. Employed adults includes all aged 16 and over in employment or self-employment.

  2. Adults who worked from home includes those who work from home and those who work in the same grounds or buildings as their home. The estimates do not include those who work in different places but use their home as a base.

  3. Data based on sample surveys. None of the changes between years are statistically significant.

Health

Jim Hume (South of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the benefits of telecare services for remote and rural communities.

Nicola Sturgeon: All 32 health and social care partnerships across Scotland have now received their 2010-11 Telecare Development Programme allocation of £4 million and all are pursuing and developing local Telecare services, many in remote and rural communities.

  Significant impacts have been evidenced on supporting people effectively using Telecare at home as a very real alternative to hospital or care home admission.

  We are asking local partnerships, within their plans for this year, to further mainstream telecare services and increase convergence with telehealth activity. The Scottish Government’s Joint Improvement Team is working closely in pursuit of this with local partnerships and the Scottish Centre for Telehealth (SCT).

Health

Andy Kerr (East Kilbride) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when ministers last met the National Performance Management Committee and what issues were discussed.

Nicola Sturgeon: Ministers have never met the National Performance Management Committee.

Justice

James Kelly (Glasgow Rutherglen) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the planned annual expenditure on the Gartcosh crime campus project will be in each of the remaining years of the project.

Kenny MacAskill: Planned expenditure in 2011-12 is £14 million. Expenditure in subsequent years is subject to contract and market conditions.

Justice

James Kelly (Glasgow Rutherglen) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the planned expenditure on the Gartcosh crime campus will be financed from the capital budget of the police central government grant.

Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Crime Campus is being funded by both the capital budget and key efficiencies and savings from resource budgets.

Justice

James Kelly (Glasgow Rutherglen) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the planned completion dates are for each phase of the Gartcosh crime campus project.

Kenny MacAskill: The project to build the Scottish Crime Campus is being delivered through three separate main works construction packages. Contract 1, the enabling works; contract 2, the shell and core of the campus, and contract 3 the fit out.

  Contract 1 is currently on site and due to complete in March 2011; contract 2 is due to be awarded shortly and is currently planned to be complete in February 2012. Contract 3 has not yet been advertised and its start and completion date remains to be confirmed but we expect the crime campus to be fully operational by mid 2013.

Justice

Duncan McNeil (Greenock and Inverclyde) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been allocated to the No Knives Better Lives campaign in (a) Inverclyde and (b) Scotland for 2011-12.

Kenny MacAskill: The budget statement 2011-12 was recently announced setting out the Scottish Government’s draft budget for next year. The budget will be debated in Parliament in February before it is voted on. The Scottish Government cannot give specific figures for how much will be spent next year on No Knives, Better Lives until the budget is voted through, however there will be funding next year to support No Knives, Better Lives activity in Inverclyde.

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to support biomedical research on myalgic encephalomyelitis.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Chief Scientist Office (CSO), of the Scottish Government’s Health Directorates, which has responsibility for encouraging and supporting research into health and health care needs in Scotland, is collaborating with the Medical Research Council (MRC) on the implementation of its research strategy into chronic fatigue syndrome and myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME). CSO and the MRC are committed to supporting scientific research into all aspects of CFS/ME including biomedical studies of the condition. CSO supports research projects of a sufficiently high standard initiated by the research community in Scotland. This role is well known and advertised throughout the healthcare and academic community.

  Both the CSO and MRC would be pleased to consider proposals for biomedical research into CFS/ME which would be subject to the usual peer and committee review.

NHS Equipment

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when the improvements to the linear radiotherapy equipment at Raigmore Hospital will be completed.

Nicola Sturgeon: Linear radiotherapy equipment at Raigmore hospital is not currently subject to improvement work. Work is underway, however, to facilitate the replacement of a linear accelerator (the machine used to deliver radiotherapy to patients) at Raigmore.

NHS Services

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what government publications it makes available to bereaved people through NHS boards.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government publication "What to do after a death in Scotland" is commonly provided by NHS boards to bereaved people. In addition, talking about bereavement, a publication produced by NHS Health Scotland, is also provided. It contains the thoughts of health professionals; professional bodies; lay and voluntary organisations; the bereaved and their friends and family on coping with bereavement. Both documents can be found at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Health/NHS-Scotland/bereavement/support#.

  On 21 October, we published our consultation paper Shaping Bereavement Care. The aim is to provide a framework for NHS boards to assist them in the development and provision of quality bereavement care, that meets individual needs, throughout Scotland. We will issue guidance to NHS boards early next year. The consultation paper can be found at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/327965/0105922.pdf.

Prison Service

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the planned annual expenditure on HMP Grampian is for each year of the projected time span of the construction period.

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the planned expenditure on HMP Grampian will be financed from the Scottish Prison Service’s capital budget.

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the planned completion date is for each phase of the construction of HMP Grampian.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  The Scottish Prison Service (SPS) is committed to building HMP Grampian. The SPS lodged an application for planning permission with Aberdeenshire Council on 5 November 2010 and published the Prior Information Notice for the procurement of the design and construction works in the Official Journal of the European Union.

  HMP Grampian will replace HMP Aberdeen and HMP Peterhead. Current plans envisage HMP Grampian opening in 2014. Subject to planning permission being granted in early 2011, SPS plans to commence the procurement process for the works by the end of 2011-12. The construction period is expected to be around 24 months. The project, which will be funded from the SPS capital budget, is expected to cost around £100 million – actual cost will depend on the market conditions prevailing at the time bids are submitted. The distribution of expenditure between financial years will depend on the timing of planning permission, award of contract and the contractual works programme. No substantive expenditure is planned for HMP Grampian in 2011-12.

Rural Development

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what programmes were supported by the Business Development category of EU Support and Related Services in 2010-11 and how it considers that these could be reduced by 19% in 2011-12, as indicated in table 11.03 on page 174 of Scotland’s Spending Plans and Draft Budget 2011-12.

Richard Lochhead: The reduction in the Business Development budget affects capital schemes which form part of the Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP). This includes: funding under the Food Processing Marketing and Co-operation Grant Scheme; support to help crofters improve the viability of their rural businesses through the Crofting Counties Agricultural Grant Scheme; support for capacity building through the Skills Development Scheme; support for business modernisation and quality assurance under Land Managers Options, and support for agricultural and forestry business development under Rural Priorities.

  Spend on food and drink and renewables has been protected. For Rural Priorities, the £250,000 cap placed on Axis 1 business development projects earlier this year will help to spread out this funding and give more applicants a chance of success.

  The draft budget will not reduce the Scottish Government’s capacity to support high quality projects.

  Under the SRDP, awards are paid on project completion. The draft budget allows the Scottish Government to honour its commitment to existing projects in full.

Rural Development

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what programmes were supported by the Rural Enterprise category of EU Support and Related Services in 2010-11 and how it considers that these could be reduced by 58% in 2011-12, as indicated in table 11.03 on page 174 of Scotland’s Spending Plans and Draft Budget 2011-12.

Richard Lochhead: The Rural Enterprise budget supports off-farm/forest rural development through the Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP). Support is mainly delivered through Rural Priorities, where activities include renewable energy, development of micro-enterprises and diversification of off-farm/forest based businesses. Under Land Managers’ Options, support is provided for active management to encourage tourism. This budget also covers payments under legacy schemes that are no longer open to applicants.

  Reductions reflect the decrease of Land Management Contract Menu Scheme (LMCMS) legacy payments for maintenance of access, and the projected budget outturn in 2010-11.

  The draft budget will not reduce the Scottish Government’s capacity to support high-quality projects.

  Under the SRDP, awards are paid on project completion. The draft budget allows the Scottish Government to honour its commitment to existing projects in full.

Scottish Funding Council

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the Scottish Funding Council allocation has been to (a) the University of Dundee, (b) the University of Abertay, Dundee, and (c) Dundee College in each of the last four financial years for which information is available, also expressed in real terms.

Michael Russell: Details of the Scottish Funding Council’s (SFC’s) allocations to colleges and universities, in cash terms, can be found on its website at  http://www.sfc.ac.uk/ .

  Details of the allocations to the institutions referred to above, in cash and real terms, are shown in the following tables.

  

 
Financial Year


2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10


University Abertay (cash)
£21,145,902
£20,897,766
£20,061,700
£23,733,253


University of Dundee (cash)
£92,230,829
£78,268,473
£88,451,050
£89,980,671


Dundee College (cash)
£26,071,274
£24,943,081
£35,432,758
£48,818,481



  

 
Financial Year


2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10


University of Abertay (real terms – 2009-10 prices)
£22,724,578
£21,832,412
£20,395,990
£23,733,253


University of Dundee (real terms - 2009-10 prices)
£99,116,449
£81,769,004
£89,924,919
£89,980,671


Dundee College (real terms - 2009-10 prices)
£28,017,661
£26,058,652
£36,023,178
£48,818,481



  Sources: SFC and Scottish Government.

Scottish Government Finance

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what programmes of research are supported by the Research, Analysis and Other Services level 2 budget line and how it considers that expenditure on these can be reduced from £74.5 million in 2010-11 to £62.7 million in 2011-12, as reported in table 11.04 on page 175 of Scotland’s Spending Plans and Draft Budget 2011-12 .

Richard Lochhead: The Programmes of Research budget, which forms part of the level 2 Research, Analysis and Other Services budget, will fund two major programmes of strategic research: Environmental Change, and Food, Land and People. This budget will also fund: underpinning capacity and capital projects at the main research providers (MRPs); three centres of expertise, focusing on climate change, water and animal disease preparedness, and two strategic partnerships, covering research into animal science and food and drink.

  We have protected the resource funding for our MRPs in 2011-12 at flat cash relative to 2010-11. The reduction in Programmes of Research budget, therefore, represents the completion of a period of significant capital investment at our MRPs in 2010-11, which will not be repeated in 2011-12, and also the relinquishing of efficiency savings that had been used to help fund capital investment in 2010-11.

Scottish Government Finance

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what programmes were supported by the Rural Communities category of EU Support and Related Services in 2010-11 and how it considers that these could be reduced by 61% in 2011-12, as indicated in table 11.03 on page 174 of Scotland’s Spending Plans and Draft Budget 2011-12.

Richard Lochhead: The Rural Communities budget supports community related projects through the Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP). Under Rural Priorities, this supports activities such as the creation and upgrading of paths and access routes. Under Land Managers’ Options, support is provided for active management to improve vernacular buildings, archaeological sites and access facilities.

  Reductions reflect the transfer in support for some measures from Rural Priorities to LEADER, and the projected budget outturn in 2010-11.

  The draft budget will not reduce the Scottish Government’s capacity to support high quality projects.

  Under the SRDP, awards are paid on project completion. The draft budget allows the Scottish Government to honour its commitment to existing projects in full.

Social Work

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason the reference group to assist with the establishment of Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland has been disbanded.

Shona Robison: The New Scrutiny Bodies Reference Group met quarterly to help engage external stakeholders in the work to establish the two new scrutiny bodies, Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) and Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (SCSWIS). With the appointment of the Chair for HIS and the Transition Director for SCSWIS it was felt it would be more appropriate for the teams responsible for each of the new bodies to communicate progress to their stakeholders in the run up to April 2011.

Social Work

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a delay in agreeing an early severance scheme for staff in the Care Commission or Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland will result in increased costs, such as for pay in lieu of notice.

Shona Robison: We do not anticipate any increased costs.

Social Work

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37018 by Shona Robison on 11 November 2010, whether it will forecast the budget and job losses for Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland now that the spending review is known.

Shona Robison: We expect the business plan when approved will set out the budget and explain the implications for staff numbers.

Social Work

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the reason is for the delay in the appointment of the chairperson of Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland has slipped from August.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason the announcement of the appointment of the chairperson of Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland was put back first from 1 to 8 November and then to 12 November 2010 and has yet to be made.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the chairperson of Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland will be announced.

Shona Robison: The appointment process for the chair of Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (SCSWIS) was conducted in accordance with the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland Code of Practice for Ministerial Appointments to Public Bodies in Scotland. The appointment process was delayed from its original date in August as the post was re-advertised to enable ministers to be offered the widest possible choice of suitable candidates.

  The selection panel which met on 14 October recommended a number of candidates were appointable. The Minister for Children and Early Years and I chose to meet all the selected candidates before making our decision on the appointment. We announced on 18 November 2010 that we have appointed Professor Frank Clark as chair of SCSWIS.

Social Work

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37018 by Shona Robison on 11 November 2010 and in light of the delay in the appointment of the chairperson, chief executive and senior management team, whether it remains its position that Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland will be on target to launch on 1 April 2011.

Shona Robison: Yes. Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland is on target to launch on 1 April 2011.

Social Work

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the business plan for Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland will be ready.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will share the business plan for Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (SCSWIS) with the SCSWIS partnership forum.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will share the budget plan for Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (SCSWIS) with the SCSWIS partnership forum.

Shona Robison: The chair of Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (SCSWIS) is currently considering the draft business plan along with the budget plan for the new body. Once approved by the chair and by the Minister for Children and Early Years and myself, the plan will be shared with the shadow partnership forum and with staff involved.

Social Work

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive on what previous occasions ministers have directly interviewed candidates applying for public office, as in the case of the chairperson of Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is appropriate for ministers to directly interview candidates applying for public office, as in the case of the appointment of the chairperson of Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland.

Shona Robison: This information is not held centrally in the Scottish Government. The Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland appointment was carried out in accordance with the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland Code of Practice for Ministerial Appointments to Public Bodies in Scotland. Paragraph 24.6 of the code indicates that the minister may choose to meet the candidates described in the candidate summary as suitable for appointment prior to making the appointment decision.

Social Work

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37018 by Shona Robison on 11 November 2010, whether the project team responsible for Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland is working under the assumption of a 12.5% budget reduction.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37018 by Shona Robison on 11 November 2010, what level of job losses in the first three years of the operation of Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland was anticipated in the Draft Transitional Operating Plan.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government’s budget statement indicates that SCSWIS’ budget will be reduced by 21% over the first four years’ of operation in line with planned savings in the overall direct costs of scrutiny from the baseline of the 2010-11 budget.